Town Commissioners Minutes — 2019-12-18
Minutes December 18, 2019 · 3 page(s)
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These are the minutes of the Queenstown Town Commissioners regular meeting held December 18, 2019. Commissioners Al Hardee and Holger Schuster, Administrative Assistant Aaron Horney, and Town Attorney Lyndsay Ryan were present; President Thomas Willis, Jr. and Town Manager/Clerk Amy Moore were absent. Public hearings were held on Ordinances 19-06 through 19-09 (accessory structure heights in R-1/R-2, zoning amendment process, building permit expiration/renewal, and permits/regulations for facilities in sidewalks/right-of-way including small cell facilities). Public comment focused on language in Ordinance 19-08 about “detracting of value of surrounding properties”; the zoning administrator was said to be the decisionmaker, attendees requested the language be removed, and the ordinance was adopted with the discussed corrections. The Commission voted 2-0 on motions to allow reading only the first sentence of each ordinance title for adoption purposes and to adopt several ordinances (motions recorded adopting Ordinances 19-06, 19-01, 19-08 with corrections, and 19-07). Public works reported White Marsh concerns about WWTP membranes and related manufacturer correspondence and planned follow-up, a new dump truck body was installed and the old body sold for scrap, and new employee Bryan Miller started Dec. 2; planning reported starting a volunteer trails/sidewalk inventory group after January; treasurer balances were reported as $180,206.80 (General Fund) and $115,779.63 (Water/Sewer); approval of Oct. 23 and Nov. 20 minutes was tabled to January; the meeting adjourned at 7:31 pm.
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QUEENSTOWN COMMTSSTONERS December 18,2019 PRESENT: Commissioner Al Hardee, Commissioner Holger Schuster, Administrative Assistant Aaron Horney, Town Attorney Lyndsay Ryan. President Thomas Willis, Jr. and Town ManagerlClerk Amy Moore were absent. REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:OO PM PUBLIC HEARINGS CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:01 PM ORDINANCE 19-06 - AN ORDINAI\CE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 95 TITLED TABLE OF HEIGHT, AREA AND BULK REQUIREMENTS OF THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINAI\CE TO PERMIT ACCESSORY STRUCTURES WITH A MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF 26 FEET IN THE R-l AIID R.2 ZONING DISTRICTS PROVIDED THAT THE HEIGHT ACCESSORY STRUCTURE DOES NOT EXCEED THE HEIGHT OF THE PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE ORDINANCE 19-07 - AN ORDINATICE OF THE TOWN Or QUEENSTOWN AMENDING ARTICLE XVI, SECTION I92 TITLED CHAIIGES AND AMENDMENTS OF THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINANCE TO REVISE THE PROCESS TO AMEND THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINANCE BY ELIMINATING TIIE REQUIREMENT OF ADVERTISING IN THE NEWSPAPER THE PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE PLAIINING COMMISSION ORDINANCE 19-08 - At[ ORDINA|ICE OF THE TOwl\ OF QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND ARTICLE XII, SECTTON 122 OF THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINANCE TITLED "EXPIRATION OF BUILDING PERMIT' TO CLEARLY ESTABLISH THE TIME PERIOD FOR EXPIRATION AND TO ESTABLISH CIRCUMSTAI\CES PERMITTING THE RENEWAL AI\ EXISTING BUILDING PERMIT ORDINA]\ICE 19.09 - AN ORDINAIICE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND SECTION 88 OF THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE A PERMIT FOR THE PLACEMENT OF FACILITIES OR UTILITIES IN, UPON, OR OVER THE SIDEWALKS AND THE TOWN RIGHT OF WAY AND ADOPT SPECIFIC REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO ABOVE GROUND FACILITIES INCLUDING COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, SMALL CELL FACILITIES, AND WIRELESS SUPPORT STRUCTURES IN, uPoN, oR ovER THE STDEWALKS AND THE TOWN RrGHT OF WAY PUBLIC COMMENTS: Ms. Ryan informed that Pat Bowell inquired about the regulation of cell towers outside of the Town right of way at the last meeting. Ms. Ryan informed that these installations are already regulated by the Queenstown Zontng Ordinance and are only permitted in the "I" zone and in the "CS" zone under special exception and must go through established zoning and permitting processes. The small cell structures are only permitted in the town right of way and would be regulated by the proposed Ord. l9-09. Pat Bowell inquired about the language in proposed Ord. 19-08 on page 2 section C-l regarding "detracting of value of surrounding properties" - what mechanism and who would determine if a property's value was diminished? How would they make that determination? Ms. Ryan informed that the zoning administrator would make the determination. Ms. Bowell stated she doesn't agree with unqualified official making the determination- would be opinion as to value being decreased- wording is vague and open to interpretation- would like the wording removed from the ordinance. Commissioner Hardee stated agreement with Ms. Bowell that the wording should be changed. Ms. Ryan stated the applicable language in question could be stricken from the ordinance and the ordinance could then be passed. Commissioner Hardee stated language should be struck from ordinance and move forward with it. With no more public comments, Commissioner Schuster motioned to adjourn the hearings at 7:13 pm. Motion seconded by Commissioner Hardee. VOTE: 2-aye,0-nay GUESTS: PUBLIC WORKS: Aaron Homey o Correspondence from White Marsh detailing their concerns regarding the WWTP membranes ongoing condition and related correspondence from manufacturer Ovivo. Suggests I&I issues be addressed sooner rather than later. Ms. Ryan and Commissioner Schuster will schedule meeting with White Marsh o Lane Cole advised the new dump truck body had been installed, truck was picked up and was currently in the process of having flashing waming lights and new bumper installed on the truck. Old body was sold for scrap. Should be pleased with new truck body. o New Public Works Employee Bryan Miller started on Dec. 2. PLAI\INING: Phil Snyder o Advised they are starting a volunteer group after January to study and inventory sidewalks and other things in town as part of the trail plan work. Starting to see trails becoming more important as communities expand and trail interest increases. Will probably have monetary figures for Commissioners by next budget cycle. Commissioner Hardee also suggested looking into State and Federal grants for trails. FINANCE COMMITTEE: Pat Bowell o No Finance Committee updates. o Pat Bowell informed the Commissioners She taught "If I were the Mayor" to 3'o and 4* graders as part of an essay contest at Kennard Elementary School as part of MML's certification process for next year. TOWN MAIIAGER/C LERI(.TREASURER : Treasurerts Report - General Fund Checking - $180,206.80 Water/Sewer Fund Checkine - $115.779.63 Minutes - Adoption of minutes from Oct. 23,2019 and Nov. 20,2019 were tabled until January 2020 meeting. Correspondence/Other - Aaron Homey No correspondence other than previously discussed during Public Works. OLD BUSINESS: o I&I Project- Commissioner Schuster stated he and Town Manager/Clerk Amy Moore would be meeting with Town Engineer Bob Rauch Dec. 19 to discuss issues with some metal connectors in the lines that should be addressed before lining can take place. Further discussion on problems with I&I needing to be addressed in light of White Marsh concems regarding membranes at the plant. o Water Tower & Infrastructure Project- Ms. Ryan stated she has attempted contact with Peter Dudley several times about meeting with Bob Rauch regarding surveying the property for the tower and to discuss revising the offer- has not heard back. Bob Rauch is ready to proceed with survey upon hearing from Mr. Dudley. Don't want to incur the expense of a survey if Mr. Dudley is not following through. Commissioners ready to explore other options regarding tower location if no more is heard in the next few weeks. o Commissioner Schuster motioned to have reading of the first sentence of each of the titles of proposed Ords. 19-06 through 19-09 to be sufficient as the full titles of each ordinance for adoption purposes. Motion seconded by Commissioner Hardee. VOTE: 2-aye,0-nay o Commissioner Hardee motioned to adopt Ordinance 19-06, as was presented during the public hearing. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster. VOTE: 2-aye,0-nay o Commissioner Schuster motioned to adopt Ordinance 19-01, as was presented during the public hearing. Motion seconded by Commissioner Hardee. VOTE: 2-aye,0-nay o Commissioner Schuster motioned to adopt Ordinance 19-08, as was presented during the public hearing, with corrections previously discussed regarding language about detraction of property values. Motion seconded by Commissioner Hardee. VOTE: 2-aye,O-nay o Commissioner Schuster motioned to adopt Ordinance 19-07, as was presented during the public hearing. Motion seconded by Commissioner Hardee. VOTE: 2-aye,0-nay ATTORNEY UPDATES: Lindsey Ryan No updates other than as previously discussed regarding Dudley property for water tower. PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comments received. There being no further business at this time, Commissioner Schuster motioned to adjourn the regular meeting at7;3lpm. Motion seconded by Commissioner Hardee. VOTE: 2-aye,0-nay Administrative Assistant